Class is in session at Cruisin’ the Coast

Many unique vehicles can be found during the Cruisin’ the Coast festivities, but not many are old bright yellow school buses.

Cruisin’ Class is in session and Leander, Texas resident Noel Larson is the bus driver. Larson and his wife have come to Cruisin’ the Coast the past three years with some of his hot rod collection and his 1955 school bus.

He traveled to Omaha, Nebraska two years ago to purchase this 13-seat school bus after seeing it in a ‘Good Guys’ magazine. “Well, I have five grandkids and I have multiple hot rods and I can take all of my grandkids in it. I take it to car shows and if I have some of my high dollar cars around there, I can just let the kids play on this and I don’t have to worry about them messing with my high dollar hot rods.”

The vehicle was originally used as a school bus for Lenora Grade School in Omaha. Since then, it has been a part of about 50 different car shows. “They traveled all over the United States with it. You can see it’s been on the Power Tour 2010 and 2015. It’s got a big block 454 Chevrolet with a 700 in it. It’ll cruise down the road 75-80 miles per hour like nothing to it.”

Larson owns many hot rods, but this one is the one that gets the most looks on the road. He takes his grandchildren out to eat, travels in the bus, and gives strangers joy rides in it. “Oh, it gets a lot of attention. I get all the school bus drivers and they want to get in it. The kids want to get in it and take pictures and that’s what it’s all about.”

Many people have offered to purchase the vehicle with some offers even up to $40,000, but Larson plans to keep the bus for the rest of his life. “Oh, it means a lot to me because I’m making people happy with it. I’ve been offered lots of money for it, but it’s no intention. It’s going to stay in my collection for a long time.”